Help 1LT Joshua Park, Heart Transplant & Recovery

1LT Joshua Park is a Chaplain Candidate in the Army Reserves, currently attending Southwestern Theological Seminary. In September 2023, Josh began to experience shortness of breath and was admitted to a hospital in Texas, where he was diagnosed with heart failure. Once his doctor cleared him to travel, Josh flew to South Korea to visit his extended family. It was here that his symptoms worsened and he became hospitalized again. Due to the severity of his condition, he will require a cardiac transplant but the waiting list could be several years if he remains in South Korea. While it is very difficult to fly someone with his condition back to the United States, the Park family is pursuing any and all options (e.g., Red Cross, Air Force, Tricare Insurance, embassy support, private medevac) to return Josh to Texas for the surgery. His doctors are currently working to determine if his heart can receive an LVAD to enable his travel (a "left ventricular assist device" is a mechanical pump that is implanted inside a person's chest to help a weakened heart distribute and supply blood).

Josh is a kind, compassionate, and selfless young man who has devoted his life to caring for others. His plans after completing seminary were to accession as an active duty Chaplain in the United States Army. Josh has a very long and difficult road ahead of him that will require an expensive procedure(s) and extensive recovery. This gofundme was created to offset some of the costs that Josh and his family will incur over the next several months and years (e.g., medevac flight, cardiac transplant, physical therapy, hotel/travel costs for family, etc.).

PLEASE prayerfully consider donating to this important cause to help Josh return to the states, receive his transplant, and make a full recovery. Every gift, whether big or small, will help Josh and his family during this difficult time. Thanks!

Who is the Organizer? CH (MAJ) Jeff Kreisel serves as the 11th ECAB Chaplain and in this role, he is 1LT Park's Supervisory Chaplain. He started this fundraiser to alleviate the financial strains that the Park family will endure in the coming years.